What is the Outdoors Project?
The purpose of the Outdoors Project is to increase students' sense of belonging, which is shown to improve student success in college, and educate students about ways to increase the access of community college students and women, trans, and nonbinary people to nature and wild spaces.
What is Backpacking?
Backpacking is the combination of hiking and camping. Backpackers carry everything they need to survive in nature on their backs -- food, filters to clean water for drinking, tent, sleeping bag, clothes, first aid kit, toilet paper, and more. The wonderful thing about backpacking is that it's not a race! You go step by step, at your own pace.
Why Backpacking?
A study of students thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail found participants "discovered how to integrate individual and broader group goals while also developing self-efficacy, self-confidence, and resilience when dealing with unforeseen circumstances" (Rohn & Conway, 2022).